Last Updated on Sep 4, 2025 @ 16:22:12 PM.
One of my many appointments during Gamescom 2025 was to be one of the few lucky enough to see early gameplay footage of io Interactive’s 007 First Light. Like many, when it was announced, I was a little skeptical. Did it make sense for the long-standing Hitman dev to be taking the reins for the franchise, video game-wise? Absolutely. Was I also worried it could end up being Hitman with a James Bond filter? Absolutely. After seeing 30 minutes worth of gameplay (a variation of what was released in the State of Play last night), I’m glad to say I couldn’t be more wrong.
While the gameplay shown during the behind-the-scenes presentation was a little less curated (seeing mistakes from the man behind the controller added a refreshing nuance to it) than what was shown last night, the takeaways were largely. 007 First Light certainly has nods towards the Hitman franchise, especially in the stealth, on-foot sections, but it also points towards a fresh take for the studio, with cinematic, outrageous, and over-the-top driving sequences present, a dialogue tree allowing for somewhat of an RPG feel, and combat that feels more of a requirement, and less of a last-resort than the Hitman franchise ever did.
James Bond has always been a franchise known for its ridiculous premise, be it unrealistic gadgets, massive explosions, or half-naked women throwing themselves at the agent, but it seems like 007 First Light might be nailing most of that, if not ignoring some of the more contentious traits of a modern Bond. The combat towards the end of the gameplay demo felt kinetic, a word which Theuns Smit jumped out of his chair to when I mentioned it during our chat afterwards, “That’s exactly what we were going for!”.
From big action set pieces to the small bits, I have to admit that my favourite moments came in the tense, drama-filled moments. The use of the gadget to mess with the orientation of the plane, in itself turning it into a weapon, was peak Bond, and the always moving forward, constant damage in the hand-to-hand combat, and satisfying ‘feel’ of the gunplay left me desperate to get my hands on it. Thankfully, there’s not long to wait, with 007 First Light releasing on March 27th, 2026.
007 First Light is so far removed from what Hitman is, it’s probably a good time for all of us to acknowledge that we’ve been a little unfair to the studio, and the gameplay reveal absolutely should foster some excitement, both for existing fans of Bond, the studio, and action-stealth gamers in general.
For more Thumb Wars coverage, check some other Gamescom coverage, including Phantom Blade 0 being the potential Game of the Year in 2026, or how Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds could be a Mario Kart contender. Otherwise, follow Thumb Wars on X, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to keep up with the latest news, reviews, and interviews.
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
